CYTOMEGALOVIRUS - INDUCED DEMYELINATION ASSOCIATED WITH "ACQUIRED-IMMUNE-DEFICIENCY-SYNDROME

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 108  (11) , 873-877
Abstract
Three cases of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection of the nervous system was observed in association with acquired immune deficiency syndrome. The 1st patient had demyelinating lesions in the spinal cord with relative preservation of axis cylinders. The 2nd patient had a discrete focus of demyelination in the hypothalamic region associated with well-preserved axons and intact neurons. Microglial nodules were absent in both patients. The 3rd patient had subacute encephalomyelitis principally characterized by microglial nodule formation in the brain and spinal cord, in addition to necrotizing lesions in the thoracic cord and segmental demyelination in the anterior spinal nerve roots. Perivascular lymphocytic infiltration was minimal and was noted mainly within the peripheral nerves. Typical cytomegalic intranuclear inclusion bodies were seen in the nervous tissue of these 3 patients who all had evidence of disseminated CMV infection. It is possible that these patients had virus-induced demyelination in the face of altered immunoregulation.